< Jered did his Champion Hurdle aspirations no harm at all with an eyecatching victory in the Anglo Irish Bank Hurdle at Down Royal on his seasonal debut.
Noel Meade's six-year-old, sent off a 13-8 chance, was given a supremely confident ride by Tony McCoy, who was content to sit in third as Cork All Star led the way in testing conditions.
Jered closed up between the final two flights before being nudged past Cork All Star on the run-in to win by three-quarters of a length, with plenty more in the locker.< Tramp Stamp put up an impressive performance to take the EBF Scarvagh House Stud Mares Novice Hurdle.
Davy Russell looked to be going best of all from a long way out on the Matthieu Palussiere-trained four-year-old and he eased her up to the leaders going to the second-last.
The 11-2 shot put the race to bed between the final two flights and after jumping the last well, cleared away to score by eight lengths.< Drumconvis stayed on really well under Paul Carberry, who was completing a double, to win the JWJ Porter And Co Beginners Chase in a driving finish.
Tony Martin's 3-1 chance was in front after the third-last but could not shake off Boulavogue and the pair were locked together up the run-in before Drumconvis edged clear to win by a length and three-quarters, with Aranleigh never getting in a blow in third.< The Fist Of God let down favourite-backers in his first two runs over jumps but made amends in the Alphameric Solutions Ltd 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, though it was far from easy.
Sent off the 11-8 market leader this time, Noel Meade's charge moved alongside Tharawaat approaching the second-last but was nursed along by Paul Carberry until they reached the run-in.
Asked to go about his business, The Fist Of God produced just enough to beat off the battling runner-up by half a length.< Grand Charisma (8-1) ran away with the Allianz Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Colman Sweeney.
The Rodger Sweeney-trained five-year-old was always prominent and stretched clear approaching the last to score by 13 lengths, wit
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